Device for supporting a milking member

ABSTRACT

The invention refers to a device for supporting a milking member in a milking stall ( 1 ) and to a milking stall arrangement. The milking member includes a claw ( 8 ), a number of teacups ( 9 ) connected to the claw, and a long conduit member ( 11, 12 ) connecting the claw to a milk-receiving member ( 7 ). The stall includes an enclosing structure ( 2 ) defining a space ( 3 ) for an animal to be milked, and a passage ( 4 ) permitting the animal to enter and/or exit the space. The device ( 15 ) includes an arm ( 16 ), which has a first end portion and a second end portion and is pivotable between an active milking position and a retracted position between milking operations. The arm includes a member ( 25 ) for supporting the milking member in the active and inactive positions. A first stop ( 41, 23 ) defines the active position of the arm and a second stop ( 42, 23 ) defines the inactive position of the arm.

THE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND PRIOR ART

The present invention refers to a device for supporting a milking memberin a milking stall according to the preamble portion of claim 1.Furthermore, the present invention refers to a milking stall arrangementaccording to the preamble portion of claim 20.

It is known to provide such a device for supporting a milking member indifferent types of milking stall arrangements, such as single milkingstalls, tandem milking stalls, rotary milking parlours, etc.Furthermore, such devices including a pivotable arm are known. The armmay be pivotably attached at one end and arranged to carry the milkingmember at the other end. Usually, such arms are provided in such a waythat they are freely pivotable within a certain area. Problems haveoccurred when such an arm is located in the area of the passage leadingto and from the space of the milking stall, since the arm, the milkingmember and the milk hose is not always properly out of the way for a cowentering and exiting the stall. Thereby, the milking equipment, i.e. themilking member, the milk hose and also the arm can be damaged and,furthermore, the animal can be injured when hitting the milkingequipment.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,938,470 discloses a movable arm device for supporting amilking member during the milking operation and in the meantime betweenthe milking operations. The arm device includes several arms beingpivotably connected to each other.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,491,085 discloses another movable arm for supporting amilking member by carrying a long milk conduit of the milking member.

EP-A-91 892 discloses a movable arm for supporting the teatcups inconnection with automatic attachment of the teatcups to the teats of ananimal to be milked.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is to overcome the problems described above.Consequently, the invention aims at an improved positioning and supportdevice for the milking member and the long milk conduit.

This object is obtained by the device initially defined, which ischaracterised in that it includes first stop means defining the activeposition of the arm and second stop means defining the inactive positionof the arm.

By such well-defined active positions for the arm it is possible toobtain a proper position and steady support for the milking memberduring milking of an animal. By such a well-defined retracted, inactiveposition it is possible to ensure a proper retraction of the arm when ananimal is to enter or exit the stall via the passage in such a mannerthat the arm and the milking member is completely out of the way for theanimal.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the first stop meansincludes a first stop member, provided on one of the arm and theenclosing structure, and a first stop surface, provided on the other ofthe arm and the enclosing structure, wherein the first stop member isarranged to abut the first stop surface to define the active position.The second stop means may include a second stop member, provided on oneof the arm and the enclosing structure, and a second stop surface,provided on the other of the arm and the enclosing structure, whereinthe second stop member is arranged to abut the second stop surface todefine the inactive position. In such a manner the extreme positions ofthe arm may be well defined, wherein the arm may be pivoted or rotatedbetween these positions. Advantageously, the first stop member and thesecond stop member are provided on the arm, wherein the first stopmember is provided on one side of the arm and the second stop member isprovided the other, opposite side of the arm. Thereby, the position ofthe stop members in relation to the axial extension of the arm maydetermine the active position and the inactive position. Moreover, thefirst stop member may include a first projection extending from said oneside of the arm and the second stop member may include a secondprojection extending from said other side of the arm. Thereby, length ofthe projections determines the active position and the inactiveposition.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the arm in theactive position extends to a milking position in the passage, and in theinactive, retracted position is retracted from the passage, therebypermitting the animal to enter and/or exit the space. Advantageously,such a milking position, i.e. the position of the distal end portion ofthe arm, is substantially immediately behind the animal to be milked,from where the teatcups may be attached to the teats in a convenientmanner and where the milking member may be supported in an advantageousmanner during the milking operation.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the device includesa connecting member which is attached to the enclosing structure and towhich the first proximal end portion of the arm is pivotably connected.Advantageously, the connecting member may be attached to the enclosingstructure in the proximity of the passage, wherein the arm may bepivoted or rotated between the active position in the passage or theinactive position outside the passage. To this end, the connectingmember is preferably positioned outside the space. Furthermore, theconnecting member may be attached to an outer wall portion of theenclosing structure, wherein the outer wall portion extends in adirection away from the space.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, said first stopsurface and said second stop surface are formed by the outer wallportion. In such a manner the positions of the arm may be defined bymeans of the enclosing structure.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, said supportingmeans of the arm includes a holding member arranged to hold the longconduit member of the milking member. By supporting the milking memberin such a manner, the claw may hang down from the udder to exert acertain pulling force to the teats. Thereby, the milking member mayinclude a lifting cord attached to and extending along the long conduitmember, wherein the holding member is arranged to engage the liftingcord. Advantageously, the holding member is provided at the second endportion of the arm.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, a retracting deviceis provided for retracting the arm from the active position to theinactive position after a milking operation. The retracting device mayinclude an actuator and a pulling cord connected to the actuator and tothe milking member, wherein the arm includes a guiding member arrangedto guide the pulling cord during the retraction of the arm. In such amanner the arm is retracted to the inactive position at the same time asthe milking member is removed from the udder and pulled out of the wayfor the animal. The guiding member may be provided at the second endportion of the arm. Consequently, the arm guides the milking memberduring the whole detachment and retraction of the milking member fromthe udder of the animal.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the connectingmember includes a bearing rod to be attached to the enclosing structure,and a sleeve attached to the first proximal end of the arm and arrangedto be rotatably mounted on the bearing rod.

The object is also obtained by the milking stall arrangement initiallydefined, which is characterised in that the device includes first stopmeans defining the active position of the arm and second stop meansdefining the inactive position of the arm. Such a milking stallarrangement may include a plurality of milking stalls arranged indifferent configurations, and advantageously the arrangement may includea rotary milking parlour on which a plurality of such milking stalls areprovided. Thereby, each milking stall extends along a longitudinal axisbetween a forward end and a rearward end, the passage being located atthe rearward end. The milking stalls may be arranged in such a way thatthe longitudinal axes thereof extend substantially radially with regardto a rotary axis of the parlour, wherein the enclosing structureincludes outer wall portions extending between adjacent milking stallsand being associated with a respective one of said devices.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is now to be described more closely by thedescription of different embodiments and with reference to theaccompanying drawings, in which

FIG. 1 discloses a support device according to the present invention,

FIG. 2 discloses a milking stall having a support device in an activeposition.

FIG. 3 discloses the milking stall of FIG. 1 with the support device inan inactive position.

FIG. 4 discloses a milking stall arrangement having a plurality ofmilking stalls each being associated with a respective support deviceaccording to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DIFFERENT EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

FIGS. 2 and 3 disclose schematically from above a milking stall 1 formilking an animal, in the example disclosed a cow. The milking stall 1includes an enclosing structure 2 defining a space 3 for the cow to bemilked and a passage 4 permitting the cow to enter and exit the space 3.The milking stall 1 disclosed in FIGS. 2 and 3 refers to a single stallfor housing one cow. However, according to the invention, a plurality ofsuch milking stalls 1 may be arranged adjacent to each other to form amilking stall arrangement. FIG. 4 discloses an example of such a milkingstall arrangement in the form of a so called rotary milking parlour 5including a plurality of milking stalls 1 arranged adjacent to eachother in a circular configuration.

The milking stall 1 is associated with a milking machine 6, which isknown per se and may have a conventional design. The milking machine 6includes a milk-receiving member 7 and a milking member. The milkingmember includes a claw 8, four teatcups 9 connected to the claw 8 by arespective short milk conduit 10, a long milk conduit 11 and long pulseconduits 12. The long milk conduit 11 and the long pulse conduits 12form a long conduit member, connecting the claw 8 to the milk-receivingmember 7.

A support device 15 is provided for supporting the milking member duringmilking of the cow and in the meantime between milking operations. Thesupport device 15 is disclosed more closely in FIG. 1. The supportdevice 15 includes an arm 16 which has a first proximal end portion 16 aand a second distal end portion 16 b. The arm 16 is pivotable orrotatable between an active position during a milking operation,disclosed in FIG. 2, and an inactive, retracted position between milkingoperations, disclosed in FIG. 3. The arm 16 may be formed by anelongated member, for instance, a pipe having a longitudinal centre axisy.

The support device 15 includes a connecting member 17, which is attachedto the enclosing structure 2. The first proximal end portion 16 a of thearm 16 is pivotably or rotatably connected to the connecting member 17.The connecting member 17 includes a bearing rod 18 to be attached to theenclosing structure 2. The bearing rod 18 is substantially circularcylindrical in a cross-section and extends substantially vertically. Thearm 16 includes a sleeve 19 attached to the first proximal end portion16 a of the arm 16 and intended to receive the bearing rod 18 in such amanner that the arm 16 is rotatably mounted on the bearing rod 18.

The space 3 of the milking stall 1 has a forward end 21 and a rearwardend 22. The space 3 extends along a longitudinal axis x between saidforward end 21 and said rearward end 22. The passage 24 is provided atthe rearward end 22. The enclosure structure 2 includes wall portionsdefining said space 3 and an outer wall portion 23 extending in adirection away from the space 3. In the embodiment disclosed in FIGS. 2and 3, the outer wall portion 23 extends substantially vertically and ina direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis x. Theconnecting member 18 is positioned outside the space 3 in the proximityof the passage 4 by being attached to the outer wall portion 23 of theenclosing structure 2.

The support arm 16 includes a holding member 25 arranged to support thelong milk conduit 11 and the long pulse conduits 12. Thereby, theholding member 25 includes a hook-like member forming an open looparranged to receive a lifting cord 26 of the conduits 11, 12. Thelifting cord may be realised by a cord, a chain, a wire or any similarelongated element. The lifting cord 26 is attached to and extends alongthe conduits 11 and 12. The lifting cord 26 is attached to the conduits11, 12 at several positions. By this arrangement, the claw 8 is carriedto a certain extent by means of the arm 16 although the claw is notrigidly connected to the arm 16. Consequently, the claw 8 and theteatcups 9 may hang substantially vertically downwardly from the teatsof the cow when the milking member is attached to the animal.

Furthermore, a retracting device is provided for retracting the arm fromthe active position disclosed in FIG. 2 to the inactive positiondisclosed in FIG. 3. The retracting device includes an actuator 30 and apulling cord 31, which is connected to the actuator 30 and to the claw 8of the milking member, and which may be realised by a cord, a chain, awire or the like. Consequently, the retracting device 30, 31 also willfunction as a remover for removing the milking member from the teatswhen the milking operation is finished. To enable a proper functioningof the retracting and removing device 30, 31, the pulling cord 31 isguided through a guiding member 32 attached to the second, distal end 16b of the support arm 16. A guiding member 32 includes an eyelet or aring, through which the pulling cord 31 runs. The pulling cord 31includes a stopper 33 which has a dimension exceeding the diameter ofthe ring of the guiding member 32. The stopper 33 is provided betweenthe guiding member 32 and the claw 8. When the pulling cord 31 isretracted by the actuator 30 and the stopper 33 has reached the guidingmember 32, a continuing retraction of the actuator 30 will force the arm16 from the active position to the inactive position.

The support device 15 includes first stop means defining the activeposition of the arm 16 and second stop means defining the inactiveposition of the arm 16. The first stop means includes a first stopmember 41, which is provided on the arm 16 and which is arranged to abuta first stop surface defined by the outer wall portion 23 in order todefine the active position. Moreover, the second stop means includes asecond stop member 42 provided on the arm 16 and arranged to abut asecond stop surface defined by the outer wall portion 23 in order todefine the inactive position of the arm 16. The first stop member 41 andthe second stop member 42 are provided at the first, proximal endportion 16 a of the arm 16. The first stop member 41 is provided on oneside of the arm 16 and the second stop member 42 is provided on theother opposite side of the arm 16. The first stop member 41 includes afirst projection extending from said one side of the arm 16 and thesecond stop member 42 includes a second projection extending from saidother side of the arm 16. In the embodiment disclosed, the stop members41, 42 are realised by substantially circular cylindrical rods extendingvertically and being welded to the arm 16. As appears from the figures,the first stop member 41 is provided at a greater distance along thelongitudinal axis y of the arm 16 from the first end of the arm 16 thanthe second stop member 42. In such a way, the angle of inclinationbetween the longitudinal axis y of the arm 16 and the substantiallyplanar outer wall portion 23 is significantly smaller in the activeposition than in the inactive position. Consequently, as appears fromFIGS. 2 and 3, the arm 16 in the active position extends to a milkingposition in the passage 4 and substantially immediately behind the cowto be milked. In the inactive position, the arm 16 is clearly retractedfrom the passage 4, thereby permitting the animal to enter and exit thespace 3.

As mentioned above, FIG. 4 discloses another embodiment of the inventionincluding a rotary milking parlour 5 having a plurality of milkingstalls 1 each being provided with a support device as described inconnection with FIGS. 1-3. The support devices 15 are attached to outerwall portions 23 of the rotary milking parlour 5, which wall portions 23extend between adjacent milking stalls 1.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiment disclosed but maybe varied and modified within the scope of the following claims. Forinstance, the arm 16 does not need to have the straight extension asdisclosed in the figures but may be at least slightly curved. Moreover,the arm 16 may have another than a circular cross-section, for instancea square cross-section. The support device 15 disclosed may be used inconnection with milking stalls of a plurality of differentconfigurations and not only the milking stall configuration disclosed inthis application. The support device does not have to be attached to awall portion of an enclosing structure but may for instance be attachedto a substantially planar plate attached to any rigid element in theproximity of a milking stall.

Although the stop members 41 and 42 are provided on the arm 16, it is tobe noted that they may be provided on the wall portion 23 as well. It isalso possible within the scope of the claims to provide one of the stopmembers 41, 42 on the arm 16 and the other on the wall portion 23.

What is claimed is:
 1. A device for supporting a milking member in amilking stall, the milking member including a claw, a number of teacupsconnected to the claw by a respective short milk conduit, and a lungconduit member connecting the claw to a milk receiving member of amilking machine, the milking stall including an enclosing structuredefining a space for an animal to be milked, and a passage permittingthe animal to enter and/or exit the space, the device including an arm,which has a first proximal end portion and a second distal end portionand which is pivotable between an active position during a milkingoperation and an inactive, retracted position between milkingoperations, the arm including means for supporting the milking member inthe active position and the inactive position, the device comprisingfirst stop means defining the active position of the arm, and secondstop means defining the inactive position of the arm, wherein saidsupporting means of the arm includes a holding member, which is arrangedto hold the long conduit member of the milking member and is provided atthe second end portion of the arm.
 2. A device according to claim 1,wherein the first stop means includes a first stop member, provided onone of the arms and the enclosing structure, and a first stop surfaceprovided on the other of the arm and the enclosing structure, whereinthe first stop member is arranged to abut the first stop surface todefine the active position.
 3. A device according to claim 2, whereinthe second stop means includes a second stop member provided on one ofthe arms and the enclosing structure, and a second stop surface,provided on the other of the arm and the enclosing structure, whereinthe second stop member is arranged to abut the second stop surface todefine the inactive position.
 4. A device according to claim 3, whereinthe first stop member and the second stop member are provided on thearm, wherein the first stop member is provided on one side of the armand the second stop member is provided on the other opposite side of thearm.
 5. A device according to claim 4, wherein the first stop memberincludes a first projection extending from said one side of the arm andthe second stop member includes a second projection extending from saidother side of the arm.
 6. A device according to claim 1, wherein the armin the active position extends to a milking position in the passage, andin the inactive, retracted position is retracted from the passagethereby permitting the animal to enter and/or exit the space.
 7. Adevice according to claim 6, wherein the milking position issubstantially immediately behind the animal to be milked.
 8. A deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the device includes a connecting memberwhich is attached to the enclosing structure and to which the firstproximal end portion of the arm is pivotably connected.
 9. A deviceaccording to claim 8, wherein the connecting member is attached to theenclosing structure in the proximity of the passage.
 10. A deviceaccording to claim 9, wherein the connecting member is positionedoutside the space.
 11. A device according to claim 10, wherein theconnecting member is attached to an outer wall portion of the enclosingstructure, wherein the outer wall portion extends in a direction awayform the space.
 12. A device according to claim 11, wherein the firststop means includes a first stop member provided on one of the arm andthe enclosing structure, and a first stop surface provided on the otherof the arm and the enclosing structure, wherein the first stop member isarranged to abut the first stop surface to define the active position,and wherein the second stop means includes a second stop member providedon one of the arms and the enclosing structure, and a second stopsurface provided on the other of the arm and the enclosing structure,wherein the second stop member is arranged to abut the second stopsurface to define an inactive position, and wherein said first stopsurface and said second stop surface are formed by the outer wallportion.
 13. A device according to claim 1, wherein the milking memberincludes a lifting cord attached to and extending along the long conduitmember, wherein the holding member is arranged to engage the liftingcord.
 14. A device according to claim 1, wherein retracting device isprovided for retracting the arm from the active position to the inactiveposition after a milking operation.
 15. A device according to claim 14,wherein the retracting device includes an actuator and a pulling cordconnected to the actuator and to the milking member, wherein the armincludes a guiding member arranged to guide the pulling cord during theretraction of the arm.
 16. A device according to claim 15, wherein theguiding member is provided at the second end portion of the arm.
 17. Adevice according to claim 1, wherein the connecting member includes abearing rod to be attached to the enclosing structure, and a sleeveattached to the first proximal end of the arm and arranged to berotatably mounted on the bearing rod.
 18. A milking stall a arrangementcomprising: at least one milking member including a claw, a number ofteacups connected to the claw by a respective short conduit member, anda long conduit member connecting the claw to a milk-receiving member ofa milking machine, at least one milking stall including an enclosingstructure defining a space for an animal to be milked, and a passagepermitting the animal to enter and/or exit the space, at least onesupport device including an arm, which has a first proximal end portionand a second distal end portion and which is pivotable between an activeposition during a milking operation and an inactive, retracted positionbetween milking operations, the arm including means for supporting themilking member in the active position and the inactive position, thedevice including first stop means defining the active position of thearm and second stop means defining the inactive position or the arm,wherein said supporting means of the arm includes a holding member,which is arranged to hold the long conduit member of the milking memberand is provided at the second end portion of the arm.
 19. A milkingstall arrangement according to claim 18, wherein the arrangementincludes a rotary parlour on which a plurality of such milking stallsare provided.
 20. A milking stall arrangement according to claim 18,wherein each milking stall extends along a longitudinal axis between aforward end and a rearward end, the passage being located at therearward end.
 21. A milking stall arrangement according to claim 20,wherein the milking stalls are arranged in such a way that thelongitudinal axis thereof extend substantially radially with regard to arotary axis of the parlour, wherein the enclosing structure includesouter wall portions extending between adjacent milking stalls and beingassociated with a respective one of said devices.